Hi there,
I’m planning a 6-day trip from Orléans to Tours.
There are very few detailed maps to figure out the main stages and what you’ll find along the way. Even though I’ve downloaded the Miam Miam Dodo app, it’s pretty tedious (everything is split into small map sections).
I’ve settled on the first leg: Orléans to Meung-sur-Loire, about 18 km. For the next one, I’m hesitating because I’d like to do around 20–25 km, but I see Beaugency is only about 10 km away, and Mer is almost 30 km. So, I’m stuck.
On top of that, I’m torn between taking the GR 3 route or the GR 655 (south).
If any of you know the area or have already done this hike/pilgrimage, I’d love to hear your tips for this section that goes through Blois and ends in Tours.
For the last legs, I’ve planned Blois -> ? Chaumont (no accommodations) -> Amboise -> Tours, knowing the final stage is about 30 km.
Hi,
I’m not familiar with this region either, but as Mathews mentioned, there are IGN hiking maps at a 1/25,000 scale.
You can also check out Geoportail: https://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/carte
Hi Mathews,
Thanks for your reply. So far, I’ve mainly looked at the GR website (via the Compostelle one) and the Miam Miam Dodo ebook.
I’m not familiar with IGN maps—I’ve always done day hikes, sometimes with groups, but never needed to plan stages since I didn’t have to arrange accommodation or supplies. So, I’m really not used to route preparation!
I’ll go check where to buy those maps right away.
Thanks again,
Have a great day.
Hi Djalma, thanks! ;)
Yesterday I called the Compostela associations to get some info because there are several possible routes in this area, on the right or left bank of the Loire. And the GR 655, which takes quite a few detours. They told me to take the classic route (fewer km), so I recalculated with Mappy. But I’ll look into those maps and extra info. I was planning to buy a map that’ll come in handy. I’ll check at the FNAC to see if they have it.
Thanks again,
Have a great day
In the end, I’ve settled on the first leg from Orléans to Meung-sur-Loire, which is about 18 km. For the next one, I’m hesitating because I’d like to do around 20–25 km, but I see that Beaugency is only about ten km away, and Mer is almost 30. So I’m stuck.
I think the best option is to follow the GR3, which stays closest to the Loire.
Hi Emma,
I did the GR3 from Amboise to Orléans by mountain bike this spring (so in the opposite direction to yours).
I’ll go back over my routes to give you more details.
But for your first leg, Orléans-Meung, you should take the GR3, which runs along the right bank for the scenery and views of the Loire. The GR655 crosses to the other bank and makes a detour to the royal basilica of Cléry-Saint-André; it’s longer (there’s a detour) and less interesting in terms of landscape.
I don’t think I can give you any good advice on accommodation: I was in a caravan and I’d put the mountain bike in the car to get to the starting points of the routes I’d chosen. I can give you the list of campsites I stayed at if you’re interested: they sometimes rent accommodation for hikers who don’t have a tent, but I didn’t note which ones do.
For Meung-Beaugency, you don’t have a choice; both GRs follow the same route (right bank).
I stayed at the campsite in Beaugency: left bank, 50m after the bridge over the Loire.
Geoportail: the best for planning, as the previous contributors said.
I’m back to Meung-Beaugency; in addition to the two GR trails, there’s also a cycling route: the Loire à Vélo. And in Meung-Beaugency, all three overlap.
After Beaugency, I took the GR3 (which overlaps with the Loire à Vélo) as far as the bridge at Muides-sur-Loire.
It’s a bike path, and even a road once you’ve crossed to the other side of the Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux power plant. The second half of the Beaugency-Muides stretch isn’t scenic and probably isn’t pleasant on foot, in my opinion.
I didn’t take the GR655, which is on the left bank (so ??).
At Muides, there’s a campsite on the left bank, 100 meters from the bridge.
For breaking it into stages, here’s an idea: make Meung-Beaugency a short stage, visiting a château (either Meung’s or Beaugency’s, if you’re okay with adding visits to a multi-day hike; check the opening hours).
Then make Beaugency-Muides-sur-Loire the next stage.
Thanks so much, I’m jotting all this down to plan the rest of our trip ;) I’ve got two weeks left, so that works.
See you soon. (I’ll post a rundown of my route once it’s ready)
Hello,
That’s awesome, thanks so much for all this info!
So, this matches what the association told me about Orléans–Meung—better to take the GR 3. I’ll go over all the details you just shared to plan the next steps. I’m putting together a stage-by-stage sheet with distances, start/end points, and accommodations, but I’ll add the sights to see too ;)
It’s all new to us since we’re not from the area at all. I’m in the southeast of France, and my brother’s in Paris. We’ve been talking about this project for a while, but it only really took shape a month or two ago, and we’re both swamped with work, so I’m giving it a big push to avoid leaving totally last-minute 🙂
Thanks again for sharing such detailed info.
See you soon,
Emma
See you soon. (I’ll give a rundown of my route once it’s ready)
Okay, the hardest part is usually finding accommodation at each planned stage—close to the GR and not too expensive. In the mountains, it’s easier with refuges or gîtes d’étape at lower altitudes. Check out gîtes d’étape by department.
Alright, after plenty of discussions with my brother, we’re going to prioritize small hotels. It’s less fun in terms of sharing and meeting people, but more comfortable for resting between stages since we’re doing this for the first time. Plus, it avoids lugging around sheets and towels (there are also tick and bedbug alerts about pilgrim and hiker accommodations).
I’ve already booked a hotel in Meung. For the rest, I’d have liked to estimate our stages to avoid mistakes with the reservations, but I think we’ll also leave some room for improvisation. Personally, I wouldn’t mind spending 1 or 2 nights in a hostel—it really depends on the conditions.
Alright, after much discussion with my brother, we’ve decided to go for small hotels—it’s less social in terms of meeting people, but more comfortable for resting between stages, since this is our first time doing this.
Absolutely, and guesthouses are a great alternative if needed.
I'll continue.
From Muides-sur-Loire to Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire: 4 beautiful kilometers shared by both GR trails.
Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire is the port for Chambord.
The next question is: go through Chambord or not?
The GR3 goes through Chambord; from what I remember on my bike odometer, it's 18 km from Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire to Saint-Claude-de-Diray via the GR3. A stage from Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire to Blois via Chambord must be quite long on foot (at least 30 km). But it's Chambord.
The GR655 goes directly from Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire to Saint-Claude-de-Diray: I haven't done it, but it shouldn't be more than 10 km.
After Saint-Claude-de-Diray, the route is shared by both GR trails through the countryside until Blois.
I've seen hikers go from Saint-Dyé to Blois via the bike path (a variant of the Loire à Vélo) that stays between the road and the river the whole way: it's the shortest route.
In Blois, the GR3 crosses the bridge over the Loire, goes up into town near the château, then comes back down to the Loire's edge (you're on the right bank).
This gives you a preview of the rest of its route. The path "plays" with the hillside along the way.
It goes up the hillside, does a few kilometers at the top or on the plateau, comes back down, goes up again a bit further... and so on until about 3 km from Amboise.
The villages it passes through are at the foot of the hillside (check the map), and the Loire moves away from the hillside a few kilometers downstream from Blois (you're no longer by the river).
I don't know the route of the GR655 on the left bank;
For Chambord, I met a hiker who did it this way: book accommodation near Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire for 2 nights and do the round trip from Saint-Dyé to Chambord and visit Chambord without a backpack for the day. He said it made for a "chill" recovery day. He left the next day for Blois.
(It’s worth noting that Chambord is THE Loire château, and it *really* impresses.)
As I mentioned, I didn’t look into the GR655 between Blois and Amboise. On the left bank, I did this route via the "Loire à Vélo". If you want to see the route, go to their website and zoom in on the map, because you won’t find the Loire à Vélo on Geoportail.
What you should know about the Loire à Vélo is that it’s a cycling route, so it’s on small roads or bike paths. As a result, it’s almost entirely paved (there are some dirt/gravel sections, but from memory, they’re before and after Beaugency, not between Blois and Amboise).
Between Blois and Amboise, I preferred the GR3 route; since it’s a GR, the path minimizes road sections, so pavement. Hikers (and mountain bikers) usually prefer options with as little pavement as possible.
Finally, if you can’t make it all the way to Tours in the time you have, there are train stations between Blois and Tours: Onzain and Amboise.
because you can't find "La Loire à Vélo" on Geoportail.
I’m looking at Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire on the 1:25,000 scale, and it shows a "piste cyclable" (bike path) on the left bank following the Loire.
Maybe we’re not talking about the same thing?
Good evening,
It’s important to clarify a few things.
When it says "bike path," it means there’s physically a bike path. It might be part of the "Loire à Vélo" route, or it might not.
The one you mentioned *is* part of the route (though it’s not labeled as such). But if you go to Saint-Laurent-Nouan or Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux (10 km upstream), you’ll find a bike path that *isn’t* part of the route.
Now, between Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire and Muides-sur-Loire, the "Loire à Vélo" route goes *somewhere* (it doesn’t just stop at Saint-Dyé at the end of the bike path), but you won’t see where it goes—even on Geoportail (I’ve biked it, and there’s no indication of its path there).
You can follow the GR trails continuously on Geoportail, but you can’t do the same for the "Loire à Vélo" route.
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Hi,
We’re planning to do the 4-day trek from Mestia to Ushguli without an agency. The descriptions mention that there are accommodations at each stop, but we can’t find any details about them. Has anyone got info or feedback on this route?
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
New to this forum, I’m planning a pretty big project for 2028.
I’m heading to Nepal to do a trek from Kathmandu all the way to Everest Base Camp (a cool 5,300 m 😄).
This trek is a bit special because even though I’ll be part of a group, I’m going solo (so far, no problem—I’m used to it). But it’s my first real trek, and it’s also a humanitarian one: once I reach base camp, I’ll stay an extra week to help clean up the waste left by tens of thousands of climbers! Since I’m originally from South America, from two countries that share the Andes, I have a deep respect for mountains—they fascinate me. So Everest… it’s kind of the trip of a lifetime!
So, a little question for those who’ve done treks to Everest before… any tips for good mental preparation (I’m already working on the physical side)?
We're planning to trek in Peru and Bolivia and would love to find some local agencies.
If you know any, could you share details on prices and, of course, the names of the agencies?
Which trek would you recommend?
Elocine
I'm heading out on a fully self-sufficient trek in Morocco (10 days) from Imilchil to Aghbalou.
Can I find screw-on gas canisters (Coleman, Primus) in Marrakech (any addresses?) or in villages between Imilchil and Aghbalou?
If not, are Butagaz canisters for camping gas (small 230g size) available?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hello, I’d like to embark on a little trip in my home country, Switzerland. I’ll start walking from La Cure, heading toward Le Noirmont first, then I’ll improvise my route—but it’ll probably follow the French border... at least as far as Lac de Joux.
I’ll decide day by day how much farther to go after that. My goal is to stay in nature as much as possible, wander around for as long as I can, and restock food in villages or towns along the way.
I’m thinking of mostly camping, but we’ll see if I end up in a hotel or another campsite depending on my route.
I’d love to reach La Chaux-de-Fonds on foot... maybe even Delémont.
The whole thing should take about a week, give or take.
I’ll be bringing my dog, and I’m preparing for this as soon as I’m ready.
Any tips to make sure everything goes smoothly for us? Things I should know—or avoid? What about shepherds with their flocks of sheep? And isn’t hunting season open right now?
I’m not sure if what I’m planning is even doable, which is why I’m asking around.
This’ll be my first time doing something like this—wandering in nature *and* with a dog. I’m really excited for this adventure... and I need it. Thanks!
We’re really keen on ecosystems and want to hike in "natural" ancient forests—not planted woods or areas heavily degraded by human activity. Travel guides (like Lonely Planet) don’t provide much info on this. Could you point us to the most interesting spots?
Thanks in advance for your tips.
We wish you happy holidays and a fantastic 2026, full of discoveries!
Claire and Albert
Hi, this might not be the right section, but I’d like to know if it’s possible to start mountaineering with another person without necessarily hiring a guide. We’ve done quite a bit of hiking but not mountaineering—we’ll just do a half-day glacier course. After that, we were thinking of starting with La Grande Motte and the Pointe de la Traversière, which were recommended to us. Honestly, for things like roping up and knots, I’ll learn at home with lots of videos and a book.
I’d love to know if anyone has done treks in the Rwenzori Mountains and how much it costs on average, what the infrastructure is like, the landscapes, and safety in the area. Thanks so much! I’m really looking forward to your replies.
We’re leaving in 9 days for a two-week trip to Madeira, mainly to hike.
From my research, I’ve found that since last year, access to most trails—and systematically for the most popular ones—is now paid. You have to pay an access fee of 4.50 € per person per classified hike in 2026, and even 10.50 € for the most iconic hike: Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. When paying, you also have to choose a day and a 30-minute time slot for your start time. Of course, this reservation is neither changeable nor refundable, even if the weather that day is terrible.
Personally, given the massive influx of tourists to the island in recent years, I don’t mind paying a fee to help maintain the trails. Similarly, setting a limit on the number of people who can hike them per day is certainly preferable to preserve this priceless heritage.
However, what’s much less fair is that in reality, most of the available spots are reserved: 1/ for Madeira residents (which is normal); 2/ for "economic operators" (meaning local tour operators). For example, if you’re a non-resident (independent tourist), no booking is possible for the Pico Arieiro hike for an early morning start before September! So, unfortunately, we’ll have to skip this hike.
It’s the same issue for Ponta de São Lourenço, the 25 Fontes, Pico Ruivo... in short, all the most popular hikes. Oh well, we’ll skip those too!
So my question is: which hikes do you recommend where we won’t face the huge crowds that the others get? And where we can book the day before for the next day, taking the weather into account?
Finally, a quick accommodation question: we’ve booked the first week in Funchal, but I haven’t decided yet for the second week. Do you have any advice on where to stay in the south or north, preferably avoiding overly concrete-heavy and touristy spots?
I’m reposting about the logistics for Samaria Gorge.
I’d love to get recent info, especially about whether it’s possible to park my car in Omalos, do the hike, and then catch a bus back to my vehicle.
In theory, it’s doable, but when you check the KTEL website, there aren’t any feasible schedules listed. If anyone has recently organized this with reliable, verified details, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
We’re flying from Montreal to Lyon this August to go hiking in the French Alps. We’ve rented a car and will be staying at campgrounds. We’re planning to do day hikes and want to stay a few days in one spot, do a few hikes, then move on to our next camping spot. Could you share your favorite spots or any recommendations for places to spend a few days with great hikes?
A few details:
We arrive in early August and leave in early September.
We’re looking for day hikes (or shorter), moderate difficulty, with a cumulative elevation gain of no more than 1000m, and of course, beautiful scenery!
We’d prefer not to drive too much—maybe it’s best not to head too far south and deal with unnecessary heat?
Along the same lines, if you know of any great campgrounds where we can start our hike directly without needing the car, we’d love to hear your suggestions!
Hi there,
I’m planning to go hiking on this island and would like to know the best time to do it. I visited for a few days in November 2018—not for hiking but just to explore—and the weather wasn’t great, especially in the mountains. So, is a star-shaped itinerary doable if I rent a car and maybe use two different accommodations?
I’m not planning to join an organized group—just traveling with one other person and organizing things ourselves—unless you’d recommend a local agency or guide. Finally, even though I’ll be getting maps, a topo guide, and a GPS, I’d really appreciate your top hiking recommendations.
Thanks so much for your tips!
I’m planning to do the Mercantour crossing following the Randoxygène route in mid-July.
I’m used to hiking in the mountains, but I sometimes get vertigo, for example on ridges with drops on both sides. I wanted to check if there are any T4 or T3-T4 sections and find out if there are any very exposed passages—and if so, where—so I can plan an alternative route.
Can anyone give me some info on this?
Thanks!
I’m planning a trip around Cap Corse and the AGRIATES in 2026, from May 8th to 15th (there are still 2 spots left, by the way! Just DM me if you're interested).
I’d love to know which hikes are worth prioritizing in the AGRIATES. We’ll be staying in SALECCIA for two days as our base—what should we focus on from there?
A round trip to IGNHU beach? Any other suggestions?
For Ostricano, I think it’s too far for a round trip...
Thanks for your tips!
Have a great day,
Anie, Toulouse
I’d like to get some info about the GR10 Pyrenees traverse. I need help planning the daily stages and accommodations—my wife isn’t an experienced hiker but walks a lot, so I’d like to schedule shorter walking days and thus a longer overall trip in terms of number of days.
Could anyone give me some help and advice?
Best regards,
Hi there, I’m planning the Annapurna Circuit for March 2027 and I’m looking for a local agency with a local guide—preferably French-speaking—to arrange this trek for us. Any suggestions? Thanks
Hello!
We’re spending a few days in Toraja country at the end of May. We’d love to do a day trek—taking our time—on a route that’s stunning in terms of scenery, but not a level 5 in difficulty!
Any suggestions you can share, please?
Thanks in advance
I’d like to do the Mare a Mare Sud in May over 4 days. I’ve found quite a few places to stay along the route, but I’m stuck on the start and finish.
I’ll be arriving by plane on Sunday evening and would like to start pretty early on Monday morning. Ideally, accommodation right at the trailhead (Alzu di Gallina) would be amazing, but I can’t find anything. Any tips?
Also, for the transfer from Figari Airport to Porto Vecchio or Alzu di Gallina?
At the end, I’d like to pick up a rental car—any advice on that too?
I’m traveling solo by plane to Catania in May and plan to hike the northern side of Etna, starting from Linguaglossa where I’ll arrive by bus. After that, I’d love some info on how to get up to Piano Provenzana (shuttles or hitchhiking), since it seems there’s no public transport except in the summer. Can you sleep there in a free or cheap refuge, or camp? And how far up can you go without having to hire a guide? Thanks in advance. Bernard.
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to Morocco in August and we’ll start with a stop in Chefchaouen (we’re driving).
My question: can anyone suggest a 5-to-7-day loop hiking route from Chefchaouen in Talassemtane Park, ideally passing by the God’s Bridge? Or a paper guidebook that covers a few options?
We prefer wild camping and guesthouses.
Thanks in advance
Hi there, for those who’ve been recently—is it possible to find other solo travelers in March on the island to share transport or room costs? It doesn’t seem easy to travel on a budget.
If you have any recommendations for simple lodgings or places with dorms, I’d love to hear them.
For those who’ve done multi-day treks while moving around: do you need to bring your own sleeping bag? I’d love to hear about itineraries you’ve done without a guide, just with a map and GPS.
Thanks, and have a great day!
Hi everyone!
We’re planning a 15-day road trip to Scotland this summer, specifically to explore and hike on Lewis and Harris—places we’ve never been before. We’ve visited other islands on previous road trips in Scotland (we usually go in April for a week). This would be our first time in Scotland in the summer and for 15 days. We’re looking at late August to early September.
I’m currently drafting the itinerary. We’d be crossing from Ullapool and were thinking of spending 3 nights on Harris and 4 nights on Lewis.
Does that sound balanced to you? Is it better to keep the same accommodation on Harris and the same on Lewis to explore the area? I’d love to hear about any past experiences you’ve had on these islands.
Thanks!
Hi there, I’m trying to leave for 15 days very soon to São Vicente. I’m either looking to join an agency or figure things out on my own to go hiking on one of these islands or both. From what I’ve seen, it’s not easy to organize with local transport, so it gets expensive. Can I use the services of a small local agency? I’m looking for the simplest way to hike for several days. Also, how do you get from São Vicente to São Nicolau? Thanks in advance and have a great day!
Aichatou
I’ve been wanting to do this for several years, and this year’s the one. Next September, I’ll be trekking in Tusheti (Georgia), from Omalo to Shatili.
Of course, I won’t be renting a vehicle that’d just sit unused. No problem getting to Pshaveli, but from there to Omalo, it’s a dirt road (still the case?)
There must be some form of public transport since there are so many guesthouses, and not all travelers come in a 4x4.
If any of you have been to Omalo, could you confirm that these shared transports exist and how often they run?
we’re planning a trip to Yellowstone and hoping to do a three-day backcountry hike if we get a permit.
if any of you have done this before, could you let me know if it’s possible to find water along the way? And if we can transport it, are we allowed to use a stove?
Hello,
I’ll be in Nepal from March 6th to 29th (we’re flying into Kathmandu via Varanasi and leaving via Delhi).
I’m a bit confused about the regulations requiring a guide.
My wife and I (we’re 63 and 64) aren’t experienced trekkers—we’re more used to walking on terrain with very moderate elevation changes. I’m looking for fairly easy hikes, possibly day trips.
Here are my questions:
- Does the Poon Hill trek from Pokhara require a guide, or is it better to go through a local agency? (I’ve seen a lot of them offering 4-day packages)
- I’d like to do a few multi-day hikes around Jomsom (Kagbeni, Mukitinath, Lupra, Marpha)... Do you need a guide for those, and can you find accommodations easily without booking in advance?
Last question—I’m really hesitant to lug around a sleeping bag or down jacket during our 6 weeks in India. Can you easily find these kinds of items at reasonable prices in Pokhara?
Thanks in advance for any tips you can share!
Yann
